GIANFRANCO GORGONI
Gianfranco Gorgoni was an Italian-born photographer. In 1968, Gorgoni came to the United States from Rome, Italy, and soon after met Leo Castelli, who advised him how to meet young up-and-coming artists of the day. He had been a successful commercial and fashion photographer in Italy but had become enthralled with the new art movements blossoming in Europe and the States. After photographing artists for an article in the Italian magazine L'Espresso, Gorgoni wanted to continue exploring that world. Castelli introduced him to his stable of artists including Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Richard Serra, and many others. This led to the book Beyond the Canvas, a remarkable visual record of the art world in the 1970's and 80's. One of the most important contributions to the art world is his documentation of the first Land Art Earthworks, including The Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson, Michael Heizer's motorcycle drawings in the desert sand, and Walter De Maria's chalk drawings in the Mojave Desert.
Gorgoni was also an accomplished photojournalist who freelanced for a number of major magazines including Time, Life, Fortune, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine, as well as many from the international press. A few highlights of his career include talking his way into the American Embassy during the Iran Hostage crisis, witnessing a surprise visit by President Sadat of Egypt to the State of Israel, taking the last photo of the Argentinian warship Belgrano before the English sank it, and becoming acquainted with Fidel Castro in his attempt to document the real life of Cubans.
